Riverside County Sheriff and Republican gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco slammed Democratic efforts to blame President Donald Trump for the riots overtaking Los Angeles, California, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Caller.
He launched his campaign in February as a Republican candidate in the 2026 California gubernatorial election — which could potentially see former Vice President Kamala Harris enter the race.
“She’s encouraging this,” he told the Caller. “And she’s blaming President Trump for what’s happening, and she is not calling this what it is, which is absolute criminal behavior and an assault on societal norms.”
“It’s an embarrassment every time she gives a statement about anything important,” he added.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco addresses supporters of US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally in Coachella, California on October 12, 2024. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Local officials such as Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have come out against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their cities.
Bass said she was “deeply angered” by the actions of federal law enforcement in an official statement.
“We will not stand for this,” she said on X.
“[Bass] has made inflammatory statements that have encouraged people to come out,” Bianco said.
California Democratic Leaders are “using all of us as pawns in their disgusting little political game, trying to get some type of political advantage,” he added, referring to how officials have responded to riots.
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has been an outspoken figure against the Trump Administration’s deployment of the National Guard to quell riots.
Trump deployed 2,000 national guardsmen to Lose Angeles on Saturday.
Newsom announced Monday that California is filing a lawsuit against the administration. “[Trump] is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. constitution,” Newsom claimed.
“This is 100 percent the fault of Governor Newsom and every other Democrat who is not jumping up and down demanding that these people go home and stop doing what they’re doing,” Bianco told the Caller.
Bianco drew a stark contrast between what he called the Democrats’ “assault on public safety” and what he believes Californians want, noting that “more than 70% of the state, voted on prop 36 last year.”
Proposition 36 was a measure on the ballot in 2024 that aimed to curtail crime in California by increasing sentences for some drug and theft offenses. (RELATED: ‘It’s Disgusting’: Voters Are Furious With Gavin Newsom For Pulling Rug From Under Passed Ballot Measure)
Bianco underscored his belief that the rioting is a result of the California Democrats’ “failed political agenda,” which has led to an absence of law and order.
“They are down, throwing rocks, overturning vehicles, burning vehicles, destroying public property, destroying police vehicles, and Governor Newsom says that this is, this is Trump’s fault for, for stepping in and trying to stop it. That is an absolute disgusting lie,” Bianco told the Caller.
